Bennack has served on the Hearst-Argyle board since 1997, most recently as its presiding officer. That position will be taken over by David Pulver, one of the company’s independent directors.

Hearst-Argyle owns 26 television stations and manages three more, along with two radio stations owned by the Hearst Corp. The company says its stations reach about 18 percent of the nation’s television households.

The Hearst Corp. is a media giant that counts the San Antonio Express-News in its stable of newspapers. Bennack served 23 years as the Hearst Corp.’s CEO before relinquishing that position in 2002 and being elected vice chairman of its board and chairman of its executive committee. He was named CEO again in June after Hearst’s former president and CEO, Victor F. Ganzi, resigned.